Layoffs at New Future Coal Mine in Galatia

SALINE CO. -- One frustrated coal miner claims the New Future Coal Mine in Galatia abruptly laid him off, along with others.

He said he called the company to learn when his shift would start, and they told him he would not be back for work.

The coal miner, who asked to remain anonymous, said he will have to spend the week looking for a new job.

"They told me I was laid off, come clean my locker out. I'd be getting a letter in the mail," the former New Future Coal Mine employee said.

He said the company began making the changes after a roof collapsed last week.

"I know the long wall was having a lot of trouble mining out of it, a lot of rock, big rock," he said.

He said he has worked at New Future Coal Mine for some time now, so the news hit him and a lot of his colleagues hard.

"Pretty depressed," he said. "I just actually bought a bunch of land Thursday and then found out a few days later I don't have a job."

American Coal, the company owning New Future Coal Mine, released a statement that reads:

"The American Coal Company ("AmCoal") confirms that it has been forced to reduce its scheduled operations and manpower at its New Future Mine, as a result of recently encountered adverse mining conditions. AmCoal is reviewing all of its current options with respect to this operation."

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